§ 3031. Examination Required.

(a) Every applicant for registration as a geologist shall be required to take and pass examinations as provided in Section 7841(d) of the code or every applicant for registration as a geophysicist, or every applicant for certification in any specialty, shall be required to take and pass an examination as prescribed by the board except as provided in Section 7847 of the code.

(b) To be eligible for the geological examination, an applicant shall have completed at least five years of educational and work experience in professional geological work, as set forth in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 7841 of the code.

(1) Graduate study or research in geological sciences at a school or university whose geological curricula meet criteria established by rules of the board, shall be counted on a year-for-year basis in computing the experience requirements specified in Section 7841 of the code. A year of graduate study or research is defined as being a 12 calendar month period during which the candidate is enrolled in a full-time program of graduate study or research. Shorter periods will be prorated.

(2) An applicant shall not be eligible to earn credit for professional geological work performed under the supervision of a professional geologist or registered civil or petroleum engineer until the applicant has completed the educational requirements set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 7841 of the code.

(3) In no case will credit be given for professional geological work experience performed during the same time period when full-time graduate study or research is being done for which educational experience credit is being allowed. Part-time graduate study or research and part-time professional geological work experience will be prorated and combined on a 12 calendar month basis.

(c) To be eligible for the geophysical examination, an applicant shall have completed at least seven years of educational and work experience in professional geophysical work, as set forth in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 7841.1 of the code.

(1) Graduate study or research in geophysical related sciences at a school or university whose geophysical curricula meet criteria established by rules of the board, shall be counted on a year-for-year basis in computing the experience requirements specified in Section 7841.1 of the code. A year of graduate study or research is defined as being a 12 calendar month period during which the candidate is enrolled in a full-time program of graduate study or research. Shorter periods will be prorated.

(2) An applicant shall not be eligible to earn credit for professional geophysical work performed under the supervision of a professional geophysicist until the applicant has completed the educational requirements set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 7841.1 of the code.

(3) In no case will credit be given for professional geophysical work experience performed during the same time period when full-time graduate study or research is being done for which educational experience credit is being allowed. Part-time graduate study or research and part-time professional geophysical work experience will be prorated and combined on a 12 calendar month basis.

(d) Every applicant for registration as a geologist who obtains a passing score determined by a recognized criterion-referenced method of establishing the pass point in the California examination shall be deemed to have passed the California examination. Such a passing score may vary moderately with changes in test composition. This subsection shall become effective on December 1, 1998, and shall be repealed on December 31, 1999.

(e) Each applicant for registration as a geologist who obtains a passing score on the Fundamentals of Geology and Practice of Geology examinations created by the National Association of State Boards of Geology on or after November 1, 1996 and obtains a passing score as determined by a recognized criterion-referenced method of establishing the pass point in the California specific examination pursuant to Section 7841(d) shall be deemed to have passed the required examinations for licensure as a professional geologist in California. This subsection shall become effective on January 1, 2000.

(1) Candidates shall receive credit for obtaining a passing score on the Fundamentals of Geology examination, the Practice of Geology examination and the California specific examination and shall be required to submit an application to retake and pass only those examinations previously failed.

(f) Every applicant for registration as a geophysicist or for certification in any specialty, who obtains a passing score determined by a recognized criterion-reference method of establishing the pass point in the California examination shall be deemed to have passed the California examination. Such a passing score may vary moderately with changes in test composition.

HISTORY

1. Amendment filed 1-24-74; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 74, No. 4).

2. New subsections (b)(3)(D) and (c)(3)(D) filed 6-13-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 24).

3. Amendment filed 6-8-88; operative 7-8-88 (Register 88, No. 25).

4. Amendment of subsections (d) and (e) and new subsection (f) filed 12-23-97; operative 12-1-98 (Register 97, No. 52).

5. Editorial correction of subsection (a) (Register 98, No. 9).

6. Amendment filed 8-24-99; operative 9-23-99 (Register 99, No. 35).

7. New subsection (e)(1) filed 8-11-2000 as an emergency; operative 8-11-2000 (Register 2000, No. 32). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 12-11-2000 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

8. Certificate of Compliance as to 8-11-2000 order transmitted to OAL 8-4-2000 and filed 9-14-2000 (Register 2000, No. 37).

9. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (b), (b)(2) and (e) filed 1-21-2005 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2005, No. 3).

10. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (c)(2) filed 2-24-2006 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2006, No. 8).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Section 7818, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 7841 and 7841.1, Business and Professions Code.